The quest for the perfect bowl of pho – Vietnamese noodle soup – can be daunting on Richmond’s bustling Victoria Street. Although this iconic strip is chock-full of Vietnamese restaurants among numerous groceries and shops, the quality of the food served up varies greatly. And with so many places to choose from, the search can be overwhelming.

I Love Pho is always a good choice. The modest restaurant dishes up steaming bowls of pho day and night to eager customers. There’s nothing glamorous about this little eatery but that’s not the focus here.

The elements that make a great pho (fragrant broth, tender meat and silky noodles) is what keeps patrons coming back in droves. It’s also allowed the owners to open a branch across the road, as well as I Love Pho Express at Emporium in the CBD.

The menu consists of a selection of soups – chicken, beef or vegetarian – and a variety of spring rolls. The beef pho is a crowd favourite. Super-fresh rice noodles and thinly sliced beef float in a delicious broth flavoured with star anise and a variety of other aromatics. The dish is garnished with shaved onion, a flourish of coriander and comes with a side of Vietnamese mint, bean sprouts and a lemon quarter. Pile in the fresh chilli at your leisure. A serve of thin and deliciously crunchy prawn spring rolls is the perfect accompaniment.